I once had a friend who was a garbage collector. He and his family drove an old pickup and stopped at the side of the road and got out of the truck at each stop. They then lifted the garbage cans and dumped them into the truck and took them off to the dump. I often thought how physically demanding, dirty and smelly that job must have been. It was very hard work but honest and necessary. The other day I got behind a garbage truck on its rounds. However this garbage collector operated differently. As the truck pulled up to his stop a huge claw came out from the back and grabbed the oversized trash can. It then mechanically picked that plastic barrel up and deposited the trash in the truck and then returned the can to the side of the road. The driver never had to get out of his truck. I thought… wow, garbage collection has become more sanitized and a whole lot easier.

Believers in Christ are called to a very necessary work. That work is to interact with people in all walks of life and share the gospel of Christ with them. The work of gospel ministry is very personal. We have to build relationships with individuals and show them that we care for them. From those bridges that we have built with people we then can share the love of Christ and try to win them to the Savior. The work of gospel ministry requires us to get out of the truck. We cannot win people to the Savior with an impersonal, sanitized, uncaring attitude. Everywhere Jesus went we can observe how He talked with, how He touched, and how He prayed with people. The story Jesus told about the Good Samaritan should teach us that if you are going to help people you have to get concerned, get involved, and even get a little dirty.

I think when it comes to picking up the trash, those new trucks are the way to go. But when it comes to reaching people with the gospel, the only effective way for God’s people is the personal touch. Don’t you think it is time that we get out of the truck?